“The 2012 Presidential campaign has highlighted the destructive effect of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision on our federal elections. SuperPACs have already spent more than $369 million– an unprecedented torrent of political spending that has flooded the nation’s airwaves with aggressive political advertising,” said Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner. “The lesson must not be lost at the state level, where New York’s lax campaign finance laws set it apart from the nation. Like SuperPACs, there are virtually no limits for political donations to New York State politicians and committees. Donors are free to give up to $60,800 each year to statewide candidates – a limit that can easily be avoided by using multiple LLCs – and donors can give unlimited sums to state party “housekeeping” committees. Six figure checks to New York State party committees are not uncommon. As long as politicians are accountable to the corporations, lobbyists, and wealthy individuals who finance their campaigns, they’re never going to be accountable to the people who elect them.”